Breast Cancer Now Forum

Same thing here-uncomfortable But statistics say radio is the right thing to do Hope you feel better soon Much more research needed into precision treatments for breast cancer, it seems ... View more

Hi Mermaid I went ahead with radio and finished two weeks ago Whilst a little unnerving, it is not painful and can carry on as usual before and after the sessions Some side effects have now emerged as was predicted, an itchy pink rash on the irradiated area and feeling very tired at odd times of the day Don't feel the rash is enough to contact the nurses yet, hoping it will dissipate on its own and with much E45 lotion-now a shocking price alas! The operators are very professional   Good luck if you go ahead ... View more

Thank you for that information, had not realised DCIS stayed in the breast after an operation So will begin the radio with much less worry   ... View more

Thank you for reply, and to everyone here the thoughtful posts are so helpful Think better take the Radiotherapy despite side effect anxiety and the 8-month gap from first surgery Supposing that even though secondary cancer could appear anywhere, the most likely return point is the original tumour bed Also It may be the case as many here have said people mostly only post about bad side effects-not if things went ok So now I go forwards in hope  good luck all   ... View more

Hello, Yes Was offered a choice of radio or tamoxifen in a similar situation, age 65 Reluctantly choosing radiotherapy, but have yet to go- but the statistical difference between radiotherapy or none in stopping returning cancer in the breast seems so small and radio has such damaging side effects, really struggling with going forwards with it I am quite some months after surgery in August Also, if secondary breast cancer can in fact appear anywhere in the body at any time, is the radio in the affected breast after all clear in surgery a sort of in case/maybe?  Seems odd there is no annual body scan to check  Found it easier to be brave for surgery, which was at least finite  Seems harder to face these choices Hope you improve and do well with your treatments, maybe radiotherapy is at least shorter than chemo, although the side effects are often long, people have said Good luck ... View more

Hi folks Any thoughts or similar experiences appreciated Am 65 Intermediate DCIS left breast diagnosed July surgery in August, not clear margins, surgery again in Sept and again in October finally clear margins Radiotherapy now scheduled for 5 days in March Given the amount of time since first operation in August, 8 months ago, seems that any stray cancer cells could be anywhere in my body by now So wondering-given the horrible side effects-what is the point of having the whole breast radiotherapy  Could have chosen tamoxifen instead, but it seems to be associated with toxic side effects also But-Does tamoxifen treat the whole body or just breast area?  Statistically, radio seems a bit unconvincing- 3%? Especially weighed against the ruination of health, it can cause, and the time elapsed since the first operation Any similar experiences- or doubts?. ... View more

Hi, Thank you for post Did you also refuse radiotherapy? Had a 2cm DCIS- primary intermediate, so non-spreading  Not sure if hormone sensitive or not Now facing a third lumpectomy op in as many months as they are not sure if it is all out or not but cannot tell exactly Am not now sure, after this third op, about agreeing to any more treatments, radio or letrazole as I don't feel on solid ground, if it had been one op- would probably go ahead with adjunctive- but now... Cannot afford any private medicine- Im pushing 66 and although there are ancient men in my family, the women were all very short-lived through cancer-although not breast Really concerned about painful, possibly debilitating unnecessary medical side effects, to no purpose I know there are no guarantees here- but really not sure Thanks     ... View more